hfm December 2025-January 2026

There is a critical need today for meaningful, concerted action to reduce the untenably high costs of our nation’s healthcare system and redirect its misguided focus.

The U.S. healthcare system is experiencing catalytic events that will adversely impact the American public. At this crisis crossroads, we need fundamentally different and more collaborative approaches.

Read this report on how healthcare C-suite leaders face growing pressures to adapt to rapid technological advancements and unsustainable costs. AI, innovation, and payer relations are key areas for focus.

Patient preferences regarding where to seek inpatient care are shifting, and the strategic response of large health systems in major cities will be most critical in determining the future impact of that change for U.S. healthcare.

On observing successful applications of the 4 Disciplines of Execution across multiple industries, Emory Healthcare undertook an innovative approach in strategically using the performance management tool to solve revenue cycle challenges.

HFMA Chair Kiran Batheja explores the ways healthcare finance leaders can deliver results that help to sustain their organizations.

Leadership expert and hfm columnist Jill Geisler offers practical steps for responding to situations fraught with ambiguity.

Tariffs have emerged under the Trump administration as a major factor geopolitically and in the calculus of healthcare finance. 

The adoption of comprehensive health data interoperability will introduce a wave of innovative healthcare intelligence applications.

HFMA’s Emerging Leaders Mentoring Program provides support and guidance to early- and mid-career professionals in healthcare finance.

Cheryl Matejka, CFO of Mercy, retires, and three healthcare executives — Scott Hawig, Nick Barto and Liz Daunt-Samford —take on new positions.

As published in the December 2025-January 2026 issue of hfm, this news roundup presents top stories for healthcare finance professionals.

HFMA’s Empire New York Chapter hosted a CRCR crash course for Kaleida team members to encourage attendance at its second annual pedal tour.

When leveraging advanced technologies, healthcare organizations can address their most pressing challenges, such as revenue cycle inefficiencies, workforce shortages and regulatory complexities. Read more about tailored solutions that handle the complexities of financial and operational processes.

Review this report to learn how to swap out the processes and technologies that don’t support an effective, sustainable approach to clinical documentation. Revenue cycle teams will get key takeaways to rethink documentation as a proactive strategy rather than a back-end fix.

Review how one company’s Complete Business Office (CBO) services optimize the revenue cycle from end–to-end to relieve health systems’ pressure of fewer resources, staffing shortages, rising costs, payer complexity and regulatory demands.